The Best Backpack for Medical School

To find the best backpack for medical school, you need to consider the specific requirements of medical school students. They spend many hours on campus, and later in teaching hospitals. Medical students are also known to “live” out of backpacks, carrying a change of clothes / scrubs and personal care items.

With all these unique needs in mind, we spent a substantial amount of time researching the best backpack for medical school. Whether you’re off to medical school for the first time, or you’re a current student looking for a bag refresh, read on!

How We Researched the Best Backpack for Medical School

58 Expert Reviews Considered
6,032 Consumer Reviews Considered
9 Hours Researching
67 Products Evaluated

Best Backpack for Medical School 3 Features to Look For

1. Comfort and Support

Medical school students have long days and heavy loads. With textbooks and equipment, plus personal technology there’s a lot of load. Once rotations begin, the days are even longer, with much time spent on your feet.

The last thing you need is a heavy backpack that will strain shoulders or back. So we paid extra attention to padded shoulder straps and ergonomics on these backpacks. Keeping others healthy starts with keeping yourself fit and healthy. So no matter which backpack you choose, spend some time researching its support featuress

2. Compartments

Between class room and rotations, there’s a lot going on for medical students. Long days can mean you’re essentially carrying your life in your backpack, with a change of clothes, personal toiletries etc in the mix too.

The last thing you need is to be digging through a cavernous backpack looking for hand sanitizer or lip balm. So, it’s worth paying extra attention to the compartments of each backpack. Make a list of the items you expect to carry and look for a backpack that helps you keep those items consistently organized.

3. Size

If it’s not clear from the points above, load size is also a huge factor for medical school students. You’ll have books, files, notes, technology and personal items crammed into your backpack on a regular basis.

This means that it’s wise to focus on backpacks with a larger capacity. We definitely recommend options with a capacity over 25 liters. Although you’ll probably have a locker too, it’s important to choose a roomy pack so you can carry everything you need.

Best Backpack for Medical School Our top 5 choices

Under Armour Hustle 3.0 Backpack

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Our Top Pick
Product rating

The superb Under Armour Hustle 3.0 Backpack is our Number 1 best backpack for medical students. And for good reason! It’s got many compartments, including the all-important laptop compartment.  The large, gusseted front laundry/shoe pocket at the bottom of the bag seems like it was designed specifically for medical school students.

  • UA Storm technology delivers an element-battling, highly water-resistant finish
  • Large, gusseted front laundry/shoe pocket placed at bottom of bag
  • Soft-lined laptop sleeve—holds up to 15″ laptop
  • Adjustable HeatGear® shoulder straps for extra comfort
  • A few reviewers wished there were sternum straps

North Face Borealis Backpack

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Runner Up
Product rating

The refreshed North Face Borealis backpack is a classic backpack that now features a new and improved suspension system. There’s also an elastic bungee system at the front of the backpack. This gives you options for additional external storage, making this a flexible backpack ideal for medical school students.

  • Over 40 different colours
  • Fleece-lined pocket for small devices or sunglasses
  • 15 inch padded laptop compartment
  • Removable waist belt
  • Women-specific version available
  • Lined pockets can be more difficult to keep clean

High Sierra Loop Backpack

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3rd Place
Product rating

The High Sierra Loop Backpack is a pack for the ultra-organized. It boasts many compartments to help even the busiest medical school student keep school and personal items orderly. This pack also showcases a sophisticated shoulder design for ease of carrying and comfort.

  • Large multi-compartment design with dedicated TECH SPOT™ tablet sleeve
  • Premium organizer with multiple pockets and key fob
  • S-shaped mesh padded shoulder straps with Suspension System designed for comfort and ease of carrying
  • No dedicated laptop sleeve
  • Some customers reported weak zippers

Himawari Doctor Bag Backpack

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4th Place
Product rating

If you’re looking for a backpack that stands out in a crowd, the Himawari Doctor Bag Backpack is one to check out. This stylish backpack comes in a number of appealing colour combinations. Plus its large capacity (16″x 11″x 8″) will pack a large load.

  • Stylish backpack made of eco-friendly waterproof canvas
  • Built-in detachable USB cable design for charging your electronic devices via connecting your own power bank
  • Generous capacity but not many compartments
  • No dedicated laptop sleeve

Vancropack Water Resistant School Backpack

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5th Place
Product rating

The Vancropack Water Resistant School Backpack has many features that make it a great candidate for medical school students. It boasts many compartments and modern conveniences, including an exterior USB port and earphone hole.

  • Fits up to 17.3 inch Laptop computer
  • Multiple compartments for storage
  • Exterior USB port and earphone hole
  • Fewer style options than other backpacks
  • Smaller capacity overall

Best Backpack for Medical School Conclusion

Whether you’re heading off to medical school for the first time, or you’re a medical student looking for a backpack update, there are five great options to consider here.

We’d definitely put our money down for the Under Armour Hustle 3.0 Backpack – our number one pick. It checks so many boxes that make it a practical and good-looking option for medical school students.

No matter which backpack you choose, make sure it offers you comfort and support so you can stay at your peak physical strength for the long days (and nights) of work ahead of you!